Product dispensing apparatus and method

Abstract

A product dispensing apparatus includes a housing and at least one panel movable between open and closed positions. The movable panel may be completely separate from the other portions of the dispensing apparatus and simply incorporated into the other portions of the dispensing apparatus so that it can be movable. Alternatively, the movable panel may form an integral portion of the remaining walls of the product dispensing apparatus. The product dispensing apparatus may include indicia to attract attention and provide an enhanced visual appearance to the product dispensing apparatus. The product dispensing apparatus according to the present invention may dispense any type of products, including treats, beverage containers, food items, personal hygiene items, medical products, and any other type of product that lends itself to dispensing from a container.

1 . A product dispensing apparatus, comprising: 
 a container sized to hold a plurality of products, the container comprising a dispensing area;    a first panel incorporated into the container, the panel being movable between open and closed positions;    the dispensing area being exposed when the panel is moved to the open position to dispense the products.    
     
     
         2 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first indicia disposed on a surface of the first panel and a second indicia disposed on the surface of the first panel, wherein the first indicia is exposed when the panel is in the open position and the second indicia is exposed when the panel is in the closed position;  
     
     
         3 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the panel slides between the open and closed positions  
     
     
         4 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a second panel incorporated into the container, the second panel being movable between open and closed positions.  
     
     
         5 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a lid incorporated into the container, the lid allowing access into the container, the lid being lockable to securely hold the products inside the container.  
     
     
         6 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the products comprise treats.  
     
     
         7 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the products comprise treats to be handed out during traditional trick-or-treat activities during Halloween.  
     
     
         8 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein products comprise treats and the first and second indicia comprise Halloween images, the dispensing device being used to dispense treats during trick-or-treat activities.  
     
     
         9 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein products comprise treats, the first indicia comprises a Halloween image displayed when the panel is in a closed position, and the second indicia comprises a pair of eyes directed toward the dispensing area when the panel is in the open position, the dispensing device being used to dispense treats during trick-or-treat activities.  
     
     
         10 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an anti-tampering system to prevent the movable panels from being moved until the product dispensing apparatus is opened for a first time.  
     
     
         11 . A method of dispensing treats held inside a container, comprising: 
 providing a container to hold a plurality of treats, the container comprising a dispensing area;    providing a movable panel having a first indicia disposed on a surface of the panel and having a second indicia disposed on the surface on the panel, the panel being movable between open and closed positions;    moving the panel to a first position to display the first indica;    moving the panel to a second position to display the second indicia;    exposing the dispensing area when the panel is in the second position.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising blocking the dispensing area when the panel is in the first position.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a second dispensing area formed in the container;    providing a second panel, the second panel having a third indicia disposed on a surface of the second panel and having a fourth indicia disposed on the surface of the second panel, the second panel being movable between open and closed positions;    moving the second panel to an open position to display the third indicia;    moving the second panel to a closed position to display the fourth indicia;    exposing the second dispensing area when the second panel is in the open position.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first indicia and the second indicia comprise portions of a face.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first indicia and the second indicia comprise portions of a face.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first indicia and the second indicia comprise at least in part Halloween images, and further comprising using the container during traditional trick-or-treat activities.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 providing a lid to access inside the container;    securing the lid in a closed position to prevent the panel from being moved to expose the dispensing area.    
     
     
         18 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising an anti-tampering system to prevent the movable panels from being moved until the product dispensing apparatus is opened for a first time.  
     
     
         19 . A product dispensing apparatus, comprising: 
 a container sized to hold a plurality of products, the container comprising a dispensing area;    a first panel incorporated into the container, the panel being movable between open and closed positions;    a second panel incorporated into the container, the second panel being movable between open and closed positions;    a first dispensing area being exposed when the first panel is moved to the open position to dispense the products held inside the container;    a second dispensing area being exposed when the second panel is moved to the open position to dispense the products held inside the container;    indicia disposed on the first panel and the second panel, the indicia comprising portions of faces, the indicia changing upon movement of the first and second panels.    
     
     
         20 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the indicia comprise Halloween images.  
     
     
         21 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the products comprise treats handed out during traditional trick or treat activities.  
     
     
         22 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the indicia comprise Halloween images and the products comprise treats handed out during traditional trick or treat activities.  
     
     
         23 . A product dispensing apparatus, comprising: 
 a product dispensing apparatus sized to hold a plurality of beverage containers, the product dispensing apparatus comprising a dispensing area;    a first panel incorporated into the product dispensing apparatus, the first panel being movable between open and closed positions;    the dispensing area being exposed when the panel is moved to the open position to dispense beverage containers.    
     
     
         24 . A product dispensing apparatus according to  claim 23 , further comprising an anti-tampering device incorporated into the product dispensing apparatus to deter product tampering.